As the BBC revives its Comedy Playhouse strand, Michael Hogan wonders
if it can replicate the success of Steptoe and Son and Porridge

It was the experiment that spawned some of Britain’s best-loved comedies, including Steptoe & Son, Porridgeand the world’s longest-running sitcom, Last of the Summer Wine. Now, after nearly 40 years off our screens, it’s back.

Tonight BBC One airs the first in a new set of sitcom pilots, reviving its historic Comedy Playhouse strand. Are we about to see the next generation of classics?

Comedy Playhouse, which originally ran from 1961 to 1975, was conceived as a vehicle for Tony Hancock’s writers, Alan Galton and Ray Simpson, allowing them to broaden out beyond East Cheam. The duo wrote the first 16 scripts, among them The Offer: a black comedy about bickering rag-and-bone men. A full series was promptly commissioned under the new title of Steptoe & Son and the result was felt immediately. Steptoe & Son became one of the best-loved comedies of the Sixties, spawned two films and even saw its two leads, Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H Corbett (who loathed each other), embark on a tour of Australia.

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Subsequent episodes were written by different writers and a total of 120 were made, with 27 of those graduating into full series. The Liver Birds, Till Death Us Do Part, Up Pompeii!, All Gas & Gaiters and Are You Being Served? were also among its successes.

Its return is the brainchild of the BBC’s Head of Comedy, Shane Allen, in a bid to persuade more comedians to work for the Corporation’s flagship channel. It’s a “try before you buy”-style platform for potential new sitcoms, enabling Allen to gauge their appeal without the fear of failure associated with a full series or primetime slot.

At a time when the Beeb has been accused of killing creativity and neglecting new talent by making BBC Three an iPlayer-only service, Comedy Playhouse's comeback is a welcome move. BBC Three was a useful training ground for young writers and its imminent demise has left a hole.

The first of three one-offs airs tonight, although it must be said that this opener is hardly a showcase for exciting new writing. Over To Bill is written byRed Dwarf co-creator Doug Naylor and stars sitcom stalwarts Hugh Dennis (Outnumbered) and Neil Morrissey (Men Behaving Badly). All three men are in their 50s but let’s not get too ageist about this – that way lies a discrimination lawsuit.

Dennis plays newly unemployed BBC weatherman Bill Onion, while Morrissey is his best mate. Light farce involving golf clubs, sports cars and wedding presents ensues. It’s like Alan Partridge crossed with My Family. Unfortunately, an unremarkable script and overall air of smugness mean a full series is unlikely.

This is followed at 11.05pm tonight by Comedy Playhouse: Where It All Began, a clip-crammed documentary celebrating the strand's illustrious legacy. If the 21st century version is to recapture its forerunner’s glories, though, it needs to raise its game and take more risks. Over To Bill? Over the hill, more like.